What does this mean to Cuba? Until Castro went to power in 1959, it used to be a haven for tourists alike just 90 minutes from Miami. But now, it's anything but. It'll be almost 20 years next year when the whole world watched the tearing down of the Berlin Wall on live television, and I have an instinct that within the next few years, there'll be a whole new revolution in Cuba and that the third-world country could become first-world once again. It ain't going to be easy, but it will happen.
Now...the final scene in Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko" had 9/11 workers getting quality healthcare in Havana. "Sicko" is up for an Oscar this year for Documentary Feature, and tonight as "Oscar Preview Week" continues, we take a look at the nominees for Best Actor/Actress.
Best Actor
The Best Actor field includes three winners, one of them a three-time Sexiest Man of the Year winner plus one of 2006's co-winners. Add in a veteran famous for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy in the mix and it's going to be a great battle for the prize:
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton": As Michael Clayton, George Clooney portrays a fixer at a powerful law firm who finds himself in danger when he investigates his colleagues' actions in a controversial lawsuit. Two years ago, Clooney had three chances to take Oscar home; in the end, he took Supporting Actor. And, he was voted Sexiest Man of the Year in 2001, 2006, and last year.
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood": As Daniel Plainview, Daniel Day-Lewis plays a ruthless California oilman who will stop at nothing to achieve wealth and power. His fourth nomination, but he has won Best Actor before in 1990 for "My Left Foot."
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd (the Demon Barber of Fleet Street)": Johnny Depp plays Sweeney Todd, a barber in Victorian London who embarks on a murderous plan of revenge against the corrupt judge who ruined his life. Synopsis, since its other nods include Art Direction and Costume Design: In nineteenth-century London, barber Sweeney Todd seeks revenge on the corrupt judge who had him falsely arrested and sent to Australia in an attempt to steal Sweeney's wife. When his plan to kill the judge goes awry, Sweeney begins to murder his clients indiscriminately, with the help of his neighbor, Mrs. Lovett, who disposes of his victims by baking them into meat pies. A co-Sexiest Man of 2006 winner along with Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy co-star Orlando Bloom, this is his third chance at Oscar glory.
Tommy Lee Jones, "in the Valley of Elah": Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank Deerfield, a Vietnam veteran who searches for his missing son in the wake of the young man's return from a tour of duty in Iraq. Synopsis, since this is its only nomination and Charlize Theron was denied a Best Actress nod: Vietnam vet Hank Deerfield learns that his son, Mike, is missing from his army unit, recently returned from Iraq. When he travels to the unit's New Mexico base, however, he finds his son's fellow soldiers unwilling to answer his questions and the local police--with the exception of Detective Emily Sanders--uninterested in pursuing the case. After two Supporting Actor nods (he won for "The Fugitive" in his second try), this is Jones' first Best Actor nod.
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises": As Nikolai, Viggo Mortensen plays the ambitious driver and henchman of a Russian mobster, who favors him over his own son. Synopsis: Anna, a midwife at a London hospital, finds herself entangled in the dangerous world of the Russian mafia when she attempts to translate the diary of a young girl who has died in childbirth. At the center of the violent organization is Semyon, an older man of deceptive warmth and charm, Kirill, his unstable son, and Nikolai, Semyon's capable and self-assured driver who seems certain to rise within the gang's ranks. The last time we saw him at the Oscars, it was in support for "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", which literally swept the 2004 awards winning every one of the eleven they were up for including Best Picture of 2003.
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton": As Michael Clayton, George Clooney portrays a fixer at a powerful law firm who finds himself in danger when he investigates his colleagues' actions in a controversial lawsuit. Two years ago, Clooney had three chances to take Oscar home; in the end, he took Supporting Actor. And, he was voted Sexiest Man of the Year in 2001, 2006, and last year.
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood": As Daniel Plainview, Daniel Day-Lewis plays a ruthless California oilman who will stop at nothing to achieve wealth and power. His fourth nomination, but he has won Best Actor before in 1990 for "My Left Foot."
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd (the Demon Barber of Fleet Street)": Johnny Depp plays Sweeney Todd, a barber in Victorian London who embarks on a murderous plan of revenge against the corrupt judge who ruined his life. Synopsis, since its other nods include Art Direction and Costume Design: In nineteenth-century London, barber Sweeney Todd seeks revenge on the corrupt judge who had him falsely arrested and sent to Australia in an attempt to steal Sweeney's wife. When his plan to kill the judge goes awry, Sweeney begins to murder his clients indiscriminately, with the help of his neighbor, Mrs. Lovett, who disposes of his victims by baking them into meat pies. A co-Sexiest Man of 2006 winner along with Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Depp's "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy co-star Orlando Bloom, this is his third chance at Oscar glory.
Tommy Lee Jones, "in the Valley of Elah": Tommy Lee Jones plays Hank Deerfield, a Vietnam veteran who searches for his missing son in the wake of the young man's return from a tour of duty in Iraq. Synopsis, since this is its only nomination and Charlize Theron was denied a Best Actress nod: Vietnam vet Hank Deerfield learns that his son, Mike, is missing from his army unit, recently returned from Iraq. When he travels to the unit's New Mexico base, however, he finds his son's fellow soldiers unwilling to answer his questions and the local police--with the exception of Detective Emily Sanders--uninterested in pursuing the case. After two Supporting Actor nods (he won for "The Fugitive" in his second try), this is Jones' first Best Actor nod.
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises": As Nikolai, Viggo Mortensen plays the ambitious driver and henchman of a Russian mobster, who favors him over his own son. Synopsis: Anna, a midwife at a London hospital, finds herself entangled in the dangerous world of the Russian mafia when she attempts to translate the diary of a young girl who has died in childbirth. At the center of the violent organization is Semyon, an older man of deceptive warmth and charm, Kirill, his unstable son, and Nikolai, Semyon's capable and self-assured driver who seems certain to rise within the gang's ranks. The last time we saw him at the Oscars, it was in support for "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", which literally swept the 2004 awards winning every one of the eleven they were up for including Best Picture of 2003.
Best Actress
In Best Actress, you have the usual international cast of characters: An Australian with a past win, a Briton also with a past win, an American with a past nomination, and a French and a Canadian both first-timers:
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age": As Queen Elizabeth I, Cate Blanchett portrays the English monarch during the crucial years of her long reign. Synopsis, since its other nomination includes Costume Design and I already covered Blanchett's field last night: In late sixteenth-century England, Queen Elizabeth I, now a monarch at the height of her power, finds herself drawn to the dashing Sir Walter Raleigh, recently returned from his voyage to the New World. Closer to home, Elizabeth also faces challenges to her reign from King Philip II of Spain and Catholic plotters who hope to place her cousin, Mary Stuart, on the throne.
Julie Christie, "Away From Her": As Fiona, Julie Christie plays a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease who begins to slip farther and farther away from the husband who loves her. Synopsis: As Fiona Anderson suffers the progressive effects of Alzheimer's, her husband Grant fights to maintain their relationship in spite of Fiona's increasing emotional distance. A month-long "no visitors" stay at a rest home leaves Fiona uncertain and confused in Grant's company, and he is dismayed to learn that she has formed a close bond with another man who is also a patient at the facility. 43 years after receiving her first Oscar in her first try for "Darling" (though two other Best Actress nods would follow), it's a good chance that Britain with the help of Christie will get back-to-back wins after Helen Mirren last year.
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose": Marion Cotillard plays Edith Piaf, the legendary French singer who rose to international fame from her beginnings on the streets of Paris. Synopsis: In a life marked by personal tragedy and artistic triumph, Edith Piaf grows from a child born in poverty to an internationally acclaimed singer. Raised primarily by her grandmother, a brothel keeper, young Edith is discovered singing on the streets of Paris and begins a remarkable career that cannot save her from a life haunted by drugs, alcohol, and a succession of unhappy love affairs.
Laura Linney, "The Savages": Laura Linney portrays Wendy Savage, a struggling playwright whose uneasy relationship with her brother erupts into anger when they must care for their elderly father. Synopsis: When encroaching dementia makes it impossible for Lenny Savage to live independently, his children, Wendy and John, move him from Arizona to Buffalo, where John is a writer and college professor. As Wendy begins to criticize the nursing home John has chosen, the stress of dealing with their elderly father wears on the already tentative relationship between brother and sister. Linney's third nomination.
Ellen Page, "Juno": As Juno MacGuff, Ellen Page plays a teenage girl who decides to proceed with her unplanned pregnancy and begins a search for a suitable couple to adopt the baby. Page turns 21 tomorrow, and if she wins in an upset on Sunday, it would not only be the best birthday present she'll ever get, but she'll also be the youngest ever Best Actress winner surpassing Marlee Matlin who got hers in 1986 at 21 years, seven months! Oh yeah, speaking of Matlin, she's joining the new season of "Dancing with the Stars" which will start in March.
Tomorrow, it's Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature as "Oscar Preview Week" continues. So long and stay strong!
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age": As Queen Elizabeth I, Cate Blanchett portrays the English monarch during the crucial years of her long reign. Synopsis, since its other nomination includes Costume Design and I already covered Blanchett's field last night: In late sixteenth-century England, Queen Elizabeth I, now a monarch at the height of her power, finds herself drawn to the dashing Sir Walter Raleigh, recently returned from his voyage to the New World. Closer to home, Elizabeth also faces challenges to her reign from King Philip II of Spain and Catholic plotters who hope to place her cousin, Mary Stuart, on the throne.
Julie Christie, "Away From Her": As Fiona, Julie Christie plays a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease who begins to slip farther and farther away from the husband who loves her. Synopsis: As Fiona Anderson suffers the progressive effects of Alzheimer's, her husband Grant fights to maintain their relationship in spite of Fiona's increasing emotional distance. A month-long "no visitors" stay at a rest home leaves Fiona uncertain and confused in Grant's company, and he is dismayed to learn that she has formed a close bond with another man who is also a patient at the facility. 43 years after receiving her first Oscar in her first try for "Darling" (though two other Best Actress nods would follow), it's a good chance that Britain with the help of Christie will get back-to-back wins after Helen Mirren last year.
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose": Marion Cotillard plays Edith Piaf, the legendary French singer who rose to international fame from her beginnings on the streets of Paris. Synopsis: In a life marked by personal tragedy and artistic triumph, Edith Piaf grows from a child born in poverty to an internationally acclaimed singer. Raised primarily by her grandmother, a brothel keeper, young Edith is discovered singing on the streets of Paris and begins a remarkable career that cannot save her from a life haunted by drugs, alcohol, and a succession of unhappy love affairs.
Laura Linney, "The Savages": Laura Linney portrays Wendy Savage, a struggling playwright whose uneasy relationship with her brother erupts into anger when they must care for their elderly father. Synopsis: When encroaching dementia makes it impossible for Lenny Savage to live independently, his children, Wendy and John, move him from Arizona to Buffalo, where John is a writer and college professor. As Wendy begins to criticize the nursing home John has chosen, the stress of dealing with their elderly father wears on the already tentative relationship between brother and sister. Linney's third nomination.
Ellen Page, "Juno": As Juno MacGuff, Ellen Page plays a teenage girl who decides to proceed with her unplanned pregnancy and begins a search for a suitable couple to adopt the baby. Page turns 21 tomorrow, and if she wins in an upset on Sunday, it would not only be the best birthday present she'll ever get, but she'll also be the youngest ever Best Actress winner surpassing Marlee Matlin who got hers in 1986 at 21 years, seven months! Oh yeah, speaking of Matlin, she's joining the new season of "Dancing with the Stars" which will start in March.
Tomorrow, it's Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature as "Oscar Preview Week" continues. So long and stay strong!
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